Conservative Media Are Outraged That Arizona's Anti-Gay Bill Was Vetoed

February 27, 2014 2:34 pm ET

Several right-wing media figures reacted with outrage on Twitter after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that would have permitted businesses and individuals to refuse to serve gay couples and individuals.

AZ Gov. Brewer Vetoes Bill To Legalize Homophobic Discrimination

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Announces Veto Of Anti-Gay Bill. On February 26, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer announced she has vetoed Senate Bill 1062, which would have allowed businesses and individuals to deny services to gay people on religious grounds. The Washington Post reported:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) announced Wednesday night that she has vetoed a controversial bill that would allow businesses to deny service to gays and lesbians if they feel it violates their religious rights.

Gay rights advocates have denounced the legislation, labeling it a form of legalized discrimination, and Arizona's two GOP senators and leading Republican candidates for governor urged Brewer to veto the bill. Even a few GOP state legislators who voted for the measure now say it is not the right thing to do.

Brewer said the bill "does not address a specific or pressing concern" and that it is not part of her agenda.

"I have not heard of one example in Arizona where business owners' religious liberty has been violated," Brewer said. "The bill is broadly worded, and could result in unintended and negative consequences." [The Washington Post, 2/26/14]

Cue Outrage From Conservative Media Figures

Fox's Todd Starnes:Veto Means Christians Are Now Second Class Citizens. Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes raged against Brewer's veto on Twitter, claiming that now "homosexual rights trump religious rights" and businesses must comply with orders from "militant groups":

Breitbart's Ben Shapiro: Brewer Is "Gutless" For Veto. In the moments leading up to Brewer's remarks, Breitbart.com editor-at-large Ben Shapiro tweeted that the governor was "gutless" if she vetoed the bill: